Brandi Ray Brings Empathy and Experience to New Role at Mt. Hood Village

By Justin Andress, Mountain Times

There’s a little shakeup happening at Mt. Hood Village, a Welches-based community that sits on Highway 26. Longtime employee Brandi Ray has been promoted to Administrative Assistant, and that’s nothing but good news for the mountain community.

Mt. Hood Village is a pivotal spot on Mt. Hood, whether you realize it or not. Not only is it home to a core group of tenants, the Village sees a wide array of short-term visitors, too. “Traveling nurses, you know, people in the medical field that work little gigs here and there,” says Ray. “[There are also a] lot of full time families that are traveling. They come and they're here for four months, and then they go on to the next park, and, you know, so I feel like it's a wide mix here.”

That eclectic mix is ideal for Ray, who thrives on working with the community around her.

“I really am an empathetic person,” says Ray. “It's hard for me to just ignore somebody's need. I really want to jump in and help what I can.” Though she wasn’t expecting to get interviewed today — oops — she’s still happy to sit down and chat about her new position and her growing role in the community.

Eight years ago, Ray didn’t anticipate finding a community when she moved to the mountain from Portland. As is the case with so many mountain residents, she soon found herself ensorcelled by the area. “I was like, oh, we'll just live up there for a year,” says Ray. “But I just fell in love with the area, and the people. I really do enjoy the people here.”

For the last seven years, visitors to Mt. Hood Village’s store likely bumped into Brandi Ray as she worked behind the counter. The Village Store is the daily hub for the Mt. Hood Village; it’s the spot where every resident or visitor eventually spends a few minutes, either spinning the small DVD rental rack or browsing the thoughtfully-selected goods on offer. The people behind the counter at the store do equal duty as cashier, tour guide, and welcoming committee.

That work suited Ray. She loved the aspects of the job that had her interacting with members of her community on a daily basis. At first, she was wary when entering her new role. She was worried her interaction with the public would fall by the wayside.

“I thought it would be less people-y,” she laughs. “But it’s not.”

Her new role requires Ray to lean on her strength as a communicator as she helps coordinate day-to-day operations at the facility. She can be frequently seen walking the grounds with prospective tenants as the primary leasing coordinator on the property, and she’s always available (during work hours) to help residents solve whatever problems come their way. “I try to make those connections with the people and offer whatever assistance I can,” she says.

As an admin, Ray remains keenly focused on helping improve the experience at Mt. Hood Village. “We have a recycling enclosure that tends to be a little overwhelmed by people throwing incorrect recycling items in. So, we partnered up with Clackamas County to put new signage around the park and additional recycling bins for the residents who live here.”

Primarily, though, the Welches resident sees herself as an advocate for the community at Mt. Hood Village. “I think it's nice,” she says. “Because I do live [in the area]. So, when things directly affect our community, people can't say to me, ‘Well, you don't know what it's like.’ Well, no, I do know what it's like because I live here.” That close connection to the area is the fuel that propels Ray each day on the job.

“I really think that communication is key, and people often just need to be heard, to be listened to,” says Ray. “Sometimes you don't even have to solve the problem, though we try. You just have to listen to them.”